MIRROR POEMS
-- The Delicacy of the Delicate --
John Herlihy
Such delicacy lies in the subtlety of our taste,
We enjoy our provisions without undue haste.
Delicacy underpins our soundness of judgments,
By piecing together all the scattered fragments.
There is implicit delicacy in love and its pursuit,
A desire to extend and make one’s love astute.
Arguments call for delicacy in finding a solution,
Rough edges need smoothing over in resolution.
Lest we forget the delicacy in making a decision,
To execute a plan whose values lies in precision.
Leaders tested by delicate ephemera of diplomacy,
Are equally tested by the delicate wisdom of mercy.
The delicacy of the lotus contains an infinite mystery,
In indelicacy of mud, the bud finds its delicate beauty.
-- The Indelicacy of the Delicate --
John Herlihy
An indelicacy lies in the subtlety of our taste,
By abusing our provisions having undue haste.
Indelicacy found in the rashness of our judgments,
Leaving unbounded all the scattered fragments.
There is implicit indelicacy in love and its pursuit,
A desire to pretend and worse to remain mute.
An indelicacy can often be found in a solution,
Problem-solving can create alternative resolution.
Forget not potential for indelicacy in any decision,
To execute one’s plan without a sense of precision.
Leaders tested by delicate ephemera of diplomacy,
May be equally tested by an indelicate lack of mercy.
The delicacy of the lotus contains an infinite mystery,
In the indelicacy of mud, the bud finds delicate beauty.
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I (c) John Herlihy 19 July 2020
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In an email this morning, I was accused of being too hasty, rude and certainly, indelicate. But I guess we can all benefit from cutting to the chase with straightforward simple language that poets often avoid in their compositions. While straight talk comes through clear, one may have to dwell a while with a poem to understand the poet's intention. Delicate? Maybe.
Ron